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Home My WebLink AboutStaff Report 2410-3595CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM Agenda Item 2.Study Session on 2024 City of Palo Alto Suicide Prevention Policy and City Programs Supporting Community Mental Health; CEQA Status: Not a project Staff Presentation City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: STUDY SESSION Lead Department: Community Services Meeting Date: January 21, 2025 Report #:2410-3595 TITLE Study Session on 2024 City of Palo Alto Suicide Prevention Policy and City Programs Supporting Community Mental Health; CEQA Status: Not a project RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the Council receive an update on the 2024 City Suicide Prevention Policy and City Programs Supporting Community Mental Health (Attachment A) BACKGROUND In December 2010, the Palo Alto City Council supported a recommendation from the Policy and Services Committee (Committee) to approve a resolution supporting the Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan1, a resolution adopting the 41 Developmental Assets for youth and teen well-being, and a suicide prevention policy2. The 2010 policy (Attachment B) was developed to demonstrate the City’s commitment to suicide prevention and mental health support following the tragic loss of teens in the community to suicide. Other efforts at the time included the formation of Project Safety Net, a community task force created to develop and implement a community-based mental health plan for youth well-being in Palo Alto. 1 Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan, June, 2010 (Amended May 2024), https://files.santaclaracounty.gov/exjcpb1431/2024-08/suicidepreventionstrategicplan-scc- 082024.pdf?VersionId=D.BAZx1bpB.WM9obgtTH6BB2zi40wngV 2 City Council, December 13, 2010; Agenda Item #20; SR # 456:10, https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/Weblink/DocView.aspx?id=74760 The Committee’s recommendation was drawn from a report presented by Project Safety Net at the September 14, 2010 Committee meeting3 that included five areas of focus with city policy implications. These focus areas were: and adopt the 41 Developmental Assets for youth and teen well-being and approve a city suicide prevention policy. ANALYSIS •Develop a Crisis Response and Community Communication Plan to ensure public safety and responsible reporting of a suicide or attempted suicide. 3 Policy and Services Committee, September 14, 2010; Agenda Item #2; https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/policy-and- services-committee/00-archive/2010/ps-9.14.2010-item-2-psn.pdf •Collaborate with Santa Clara County and local mental health partners to share resources with the community and advance mental health awareness and suicide prevention strategies. •Provide an easily accessible list of mental health and suicide prevention resources on the city website including crisis line services, such as the national simplified phone and text service, 9-8-8. •Provide a list of available resources to City employees to recognize at-risk behaviors and access mental health resources effectively. •Establish and implement safety protocols at City facilities, such as safe storage of firearms, medications, and chemicals, and securing areas with restricted access. •Conduct a review of the policy every two years to ensure compliance and relevance and adapt to emerging needs. City Programs Supporting Community Mental Health – In 2024, the City provided mental health support to the community and to city employees through various trainings, programs, and events. Some of these efforts, many of which will continue into 2025, are summarized below. Mental Health First Aid Training – In partnership with Momentum for Health, adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainings were offered to all City staff and to community members during the first half of 2024. Additional training sessions specific to adults supporting youth were offered to parents and caregivers. These trainings were made possible by a $2 million federal earmark for assistance related to alternative response for people experiencing mental health crises. Project Safety Net provided MHFA training to the Palo Alto Youth Council to promote peer to peer support for youth. Events – In partnership with Youth Community Service, allcove, Project Safety Net, Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services, and Gunn High School Wellness, the City hosted an intergenerational event for teen mental health called, Beyond the Books: A Teen Mental Health Summit, on Saturday, October 5th. An event to introduce teens to available career pathways after high school will be held in 2025. Teen Center – The Teen Center at Mitchell Park Community Center is open weekdays from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm during the school year. New monthly activities include Self Care Social Club on Tuesdays with activities like yoga in the park. The Teen Center is also open from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm every Friday with food and fun weekly themes. Partnership with Palo Alto University – The Community Services Department entered into an agreement with Palo Alto University to provide tailored mental health resources and support for teens, parents, and staff who support youth. The programs and services to be offered include: training for staff who interact with youth including middle school athletic coaches; parent education sessions, and teen education sessions; developing a post-crisis intervention plan to provide ongoing support to teens and parents following a crisis; assisting staff with developing initiatives to create a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ youth, and designing and implementing wellness activities based on positive psychology principles, such as mindfulness sessions, gratitude exercises, and group activities. Palo Alto Link Rides for Teens – Teens can ride the Palo Alto Link for free to access a preferred third place. A third place is a casual, social setting other than home or school/work where people can connect with others or participate in a hobby or activity. Free link rides for teens provide access to city facilities such as community centers, Children’s Theatre, Art Center, libraries, allcove, and Youth Community Service. This program was developed after a survey of Palo Alto youth utilizing City programs and receiving feedback from allcove that transportation is a barrier for youth to access third places that support mental and emotional health. Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) – The Palo Alto Police Department launched PERT in partnership with Santa Clara County in December 2021. The program teams up a police officer with a licensed mental health clinician to provide rapid intervention to a person in a mental health crisis. The clinician position is not filled currently, however; the PERT officer has advanced training to assist in crisis situations. 4 and Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services5 provide resources and services for all County residents. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT 4 TRUST Field Response Program, https://momentumforhealth.org/services/community-programs/trust/ 5 Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services, https://bhsd.santaclaracounty.gov/home policy. Advancing the policy will require coordination and collaboration with community partners. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ATTACHMENTS APPROVED BY: POLICY AND PROCEDURES 3-04/CSD Revised: December 5, 2024 Page 1 of 2 CITY SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY PURPOSE To affirm the City of Palo Alto’s ongoing commitment to the awareness of suicide as a public health concern, promote community collaboration, de-stigmatize mental health concerns and care, and support suicide prevention strategies, including, where possible, those identified in the Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan (May 2024)1. BACKGROUND Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in California and in the United States2 and includes lives across the age span. The effects of suicide on a community reach well beyond the individual life lost, resulting in profound emotional suffering and grief of family members, friends, classmates, teachers, colleagues, neighbors, and congregations. Suicide is preventable and everyone can play a role in suicide prevention by understanding the warning signs of suicide, learning how to respond, and knowing where to get help. The City of Palo Alto shares the County of Santa Clara’s mission of bringing community awareness to the issue of suicide and supporting a community effort to prevent it. In 2010, the City of Palo Alto adopted a Suicide Prevention Policy with an emphasis on youth suicide prevention. Recognizing that anyone, regardless of age, gender, or race can experience a mental health crisis, this policy expands beyond the youth focus to the community as a whole and incorporates City staff as both implementor and part of the community. POLICY It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to support and advance suicide prevention strategies, including those outlined in the County’s Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan. This policy calls for the collaboration between the City of Palo Alto and local and regional organizations, to educate residents and employees to gain a better understanding of the causes of suicide, who might be at risk, and how to report threats of suicide or recommend resources to those showing signs of becoming at risk so they may receive help and support. 1 Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Program, https://bhsd.santaclaracounty.gov/get-prevention- services/about-suicide-prevention-program 2 National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide#. Docusign Envelope ID: 54280DCD-FC2A-40AD-8ECF-EC517DC52C0E POLICY AND PROCEDURES 3-04/CSD Revised: December 5, 2024 Page 2 of 2 This policy calls for the review and development of a Crisis Response and Community Communication Plan to ensure public safety and responsible reporting of a suicide or attempted suicide to both the community and the media including working with local media on appropriate and responsible reporting. The City will promote strategies and resources provided by the County, under the following guiding framework: 1. CITY RESIDENTS. The City will actively collaborate with Santa Clara County and other local mental health partners to share information and resources related to suicide prevention with the community. The City will maintain an easily accessible list of mental health and suicide prevention resources on the City website including crisis line services and the national simplified phone and text service, 9-8-8. 2. CITY EMPLOYEES. The Human Resources Department will share resources with employees on understanding the causes of suicide, recognizing at-risk behaviors, and appropriate methods to provide support and recommend resources. The City may accomplish this through training programs, the City website, and city-wide communications. Employees should be made aware of this policy and be provided with a list of available and accessible mental health resources. 3. CITY FACILITIES. The City will have public safety protocols in place at City facilities such as safe storage of firearms, medications, and chemicals. Protocols may include posting signage, securing areas with restricted access, and proper chain of custody procedures. 4. COORDINATION WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND PARTNERS. The City will partner and collaborate with the County, regional agencies, and local mental health organizations to advance mental health awareness and suicide prevention strategies. This includes working with the County to bring awareness to suicide prevention work during National Suicide Prevention Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. This policy shall be reviewed every two years to ensure compliance, relevance, and to make any necessary revisions. Recommended: ______________________ ____________ Director, Community Services Date Approved: ______________________ ____________ City Manager Date Docusign Envelope ID: 54280DCD-FC2A-40AD-8ECF-EC517DC52C0E 1/2/2025 12/31/2024 Suicide Prevention Policy and Mental Health Promotion September 22, 2010 Background The Palo Alto City Council and City Administration understand the concern that suicide poses to its residents and employees/employers. Within that framework, the City shall adopt suicide prevention strategies and intervention procedures. These policy and procedures will be compatible with the Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan that was adopted by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on August 24, 2010. To meet these goals, mental health care shall be promoted and there shall be support for community members in need. Suicide Prevention Policy This policy shall advance current strategies and best practices as designated by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, a national agency promoting the national suicide prevention plan, and the California Suicide Prevention Plan. This policy promotes planning, implementing, and evaluating strategies for suicide prevention and intervention and encouraging mental health care. This will be accomplished by City staff and residents gaining a better understanding about the causes of suicide and learning appropriate methods for identifying and preventing loss of life. The policy and procedures will include training in identifying those at risk (gatekeeper training) and how to report suicide threats to the appropriate parental and professional authorities. This policy shall provide for active collaboration on similar work by the Palo Alto Unified School district and other local and regional authorities, including Santa Clara County government. This policy shall advance current strategies, including but not limited to, parent education, youth outreach, mental health support of students, means reduction, youth mental health screenings, and grief support amongst other actions. The implementation of this policy (and related procedures), supports initiatives and actions taken by the community task force, Project Safety Net, or any future similar committee. Their activities will be agreed upon, implemented and evaluated. A strong and effective educational program promote the healthy mental, emotional, and social development of residents and employees/employers including, but not limited to, understanding of problem -solving skills, coping skills, and resilience. Additionally, an easily accessible list of mental health and suicide prevention resources shall be maintained. The City Manager or his/her designee shall establish a crisis intervention plan and procedures to ensure public safety and appropriate communications in the event that a suicide occurs or an attempt is made by an individual in the City of Palo Alto. The City Manager will explore how this policy relates to the City’s Emergency Crisis Plan. The City of Palo Alto Administration shall ensure that all staff members have been issued a copy of this suicide prevention policy and related procedures. All staff are responsible for knowing and acting upon them. Funds to implement this policy shall be provide d, when available, and shall be sought through private donations, grant applications and other sources of outside funding. Additional funding will also be sought through partnership with the Palo Alto Unified School District and other agencies with expertise in this area. This policy shall be reviewed annually to confirm compliance and to make any necessary revisions. JANUARY 21, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org CITY SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY and Mental Health Initiatives 1 PURPOSE Affirm the City of Palo Alto’s ongoing commitment to the awareness of suicide as a public health concern, promote community collaboration, de-stigmatize mental health concerns and care, and support suicide prevention strategies, including those identified in the Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan. 2 WHY DO WE NEED A CSPP? Demonstrates a commitment from the highest level to support community mental health and wellness efforts, through: •Community collaboration and partnerships •Elevating the conversation about mental health •Supporting suicide prevention efforts and strategies Provides a framework to support mental health and wellness in the community and prevent suicides. 3 GUIDING FRAMEWORK TO PROMOTE STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES -Collaboration with County and mental health partners -Share information and resources -Maintain a list of resources on the City website Residents (all ages) City Employees City Facilities -Maintain public safety protocols -Safe storage of firearms, securing restricted areas, proper chain of custody -Share resources with employees -Trainings, City-wide communications -Maintain a list of resources for employees Coordination with Partners 4 MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES •Mental Health First Aid Training •Community Events •Rides for Teens •Partnership with Palo Alto University •Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) KRISTEN O’KANE Director, Community Services kristen.o’kane@cityofpaloalto.org 650-463-4908